Baltimore Ravens Blogshttp://blogs.baltimoreravens.com
The official blog of the Baltimore Ravens.Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:30:16 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1AFC North and NFL Roundup: Week of Aug. 20-24http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2012/08/20/afc-north-and-nfl-roundup-week-of-aug-20-24/
http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2012/08/20/afc-north-and-nfl-roundup-week-of-aug-20-24/#commentsMon, 20 Aug 2012 13:38:59 +0000Garrett Downinghttp://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/?p=31128We’ll round up the biggest stories from AFC North enemy territory each day. We’ll also bring you any NFL national news and updates on former Ravens, if there’s something to pass along.

Tuesday, Aug. 21

Clark Takes Quieter TonePittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark has been one of the team’s more outspoken players in recent years, but this year he’s making an effort to take a lower profile. He has been turning down interview requests and staying quiet throughout training camp. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]

WR Mitchell Takking Positive Approach Cleveland Browns third-year wide receiver Carlton Mitchell has struggled to stay on the field during his first two years in the NFL, and now another injury has held him out of action this training camp. The big wideout is vying for a roster spot, and is trying to keep an upbeat approach despite the nagging injuries. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Lewis Keeps Twitter Ban
Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis banned his players from tweeting at the start of training camp, and he’s keeping the rule in effect now that open camp practices have concluded. “Lets focus on football and it’s been a good focus,” Lewis said. [Cincinnati Enquirer]

Vick Injured Vs. PatriotsPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick left Monday’s night’s preseason game against New England after taking a big hit in the first quarter. He suffered a rib injury, but the X-rays turned up negative. The expectation is that Vick will be able to play in the regular season opener. [SI.com]

Monday, Aug. 20

Steelers Top Colts 26-24The Steelers have gone through an offensive transformation with the arrival of new coordinator Todd Haley, and the new-look offense showed bright spots in the Sunday night victory over Indianapolis. “We’re not playing as good as we could or should but we’re making progress,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

McCoy Says He’s Committed To ClevelandBrowns quarterback Colt McCoy has been involved in a number of trade rumors since the team drafted Brandon Weeden in the first round of this year’s draft. Despite the speculation, McCoy said in a recent interview that he is committed to Cleveland and that there’s no place he’d rather be. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Kirkpatrick Takes Part In Practice
After missing all of training camp, Bengals first-round pick Dre Kirkpatrick took part in his first practice since June minicamp. The cornerback suffered a knee injury during an early-July workout away from the team’s facility. [Cincinnati Enquirer]

Giants Hazing Video Goes ViralVideo of New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul dumping second-year cornerback Prince Amukamara in a cold tub went viral over the weekend after punter Steve Weatherford posted it on his Twitter account. Weatherford later apologized on Twitter, saying that he should not have posted the video. [SI.com]

Now, he is choosing to play out that tender in hopes of getting a better offer when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

“My philosophy on doing that was just having confidence in myself,” Williams told Wilson. “I know myself, I know my ability. I know my work ethic. At the end of the day, the offer, I felt like I could always make that. I felt it wasn’t good enough and my agent said it wasn’t good enough. I love playing for the Ravens. I would love to be here, but right now we’re just in the negotiation stage.

“For me to say the money ain’t good, that wasn’t the case. It’s good money, but my job is to make the most money I possibly can for my family. I’m thinking about my daughter and any future children I want to have. I want some kind of security, and the deal we had wasn’t like that.”

Williams’ play was a pleasant surprise last season, as he emerged as a starter for the Ravens after a slow start to his NFL career. He was drafted by Tennessee in the seventh round out of Division II Washburn. The Ravens picked him up off the Titans’ practice squad in 2009.

Williams underwent surgery on his right hip last offseason after recording a career-high 77 tackles and 18 pass deflections in 2012. Williams says his hip is 100 percent, but he now favors his left hip because of overcompensation.

He will have to overcome any health obstacles, plus the competition from teammate Jimmy Smith, if he is going to get the contract he desires.

Just as he has his whole life, Williams is betting on himself.

“Cary was fired up about his value and what he’s worth after a successful year,” Marc Lillibridge, Williams’ agent, told Wilson. “We feel like if he can play as good or better than last season and lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl, then he’ll get his just due. I completely agree with that. You roll the dice on yourself your entire life.”

Wilson believes there could be middle ground for Williams in the future, noting there are many starting cornerbacks that average above $5 million, but won’t get Nnamdi Asomugha, Darrelle Revis or even Lardarius Webb money.

Williams hopes that middle ground will be found in Baltimore.

“Although Williams turned down the Ravens’ contract offer, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s engaged in an exit strategy,” wrote Wilson. “Ideally, Williams would like to remain with the Ravens depending on the level of contract talks.”

Birk Sympathetic To Replacement Refs, Boldin Not So Much

After playing in two preseason games with the league’s replacement officials, Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin sees a need for change.

The officials have made a few blunders in each of the Ravens games, the most memorable from the first game when the official referred to Atlanta as Arizona on more than one occasion. In Friday’s contest against the Lions, the officiating crew needed nearly three minutes of conferences to figure out how to mark off an 18-yard facemask penalty on Detroit near the end of the first quarter.

The Lions team website writer Mike O’Hara said the refs were a “disgrace on any level of officiating football.”

But Ravens center Matt Birk is more sympathetic to the situation these men and women have suddenly found themselves in.

In the CSNBaltimore.com video below, former Vice President of Officiating Mike Pereira discusses the latest in the league’s negotiations with the referees.

Zenitz: Cundiff Coming Across As ‘Very Bitter’

After Friday’s home preseason debut, in which both incumbent kicker Billy Cundiff and rookie challenger Justin Tucker were perfect on field-goal attempts, Cundiff told reporters he isn’t competing against Tucker.

Instead, he said he is competing against himself because it’s his job to lose.

“The way the coaches have approached me and the way everybody in the organization has approached it is that if I kick well, this is my job,” Cundiff said after the game. “This isn’t necessarily a competition between myself and Justin. This is really a competition with myself and how good I can be.”

The Carroll County Times’ Matt Zenitz believes Cundiff’s comments aren’t coming across in a positive light.

Cornerback Jimmy Smith was right there in coverage with one of the league’s best wide receivers, Calvin Johnson, in Friday’s preseason contest.But Smith didn’t look for the ball at the last moment and ended up allowing a touchdown reception.

“As others have pointed out, the absence of Terrell Suggs likely means more blitzing, which means more leaving cornerbacks by their lonesome. So you can’t have a corner who’s not able to locate that oblong brown thing flying through the air.”

“It’s much better, a lot better,” Dickson said of his shoulder. “I can actually do some catching and stuff, and more conditioning. The progress is definitely pretty good. Hopefully I can get back there in a week or so. I’ll do anything possible to get out there for the season opener. I don’t want to miss those. I want to play [now], but I’m glad I still have these preseason games to get healthy.”

Pitta still isn’t cleared to catch any passes, but says he’ll be ready to go.

“With the hand, you’ve got to let the bone heal,” Pitta told The Sun. “We’re being smart with it and making sure that we’re doing all we can at the proper time. If we prepare right, we’ll be ready to go when the season starts.”

So Is T. Smith Fine Or Not?

Torrey Smith Returns To Practice

There were some conflicting opinions about how receiver Torrey Smith looked in his return to practice yesterday after being held out of a few days of practice last week and the Lions game.

“Doesn’t look like Torrey Smith is affected by that ankle,” tweeted Ryan Mink. “He’s flying around the field.”

“Smith clearly favored the ankle when he had to come to a sudden stop, plant and push off. When Smith had to do that, he came away with a limp. Flacco went to Smith on a short pass over the middle that went off of his hands. Smith limped away.

“That could jeopardize Smith’s ability to play in Thursday’s home game vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coach John Harbaugh is more optimistic.”

You can take a look at some footage of Smith from yesterday’s practice in the video to the right. It’s limited, but what do you think?

Tweet after Omar Brown already notched three fumble recoveries and an interception in two preseason games. … @mattvensel: Sweet Jesus. Omar Brown recovered the onside kick. Word of advice, #Ravens fans: If you’re at a wedding with Omar Brown, don’t even bother trying to catch the garter or the bouquet. [Twitter]

Hey Jamison Hensley, who will be the starters on the Ravens’ offensive line? “By the end of the season: LT McKinnie, LG Osemele, C Birk, RG Yanda, RT Oher.” [ESPN]

]]>http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2012/08/20/late-for-work-820-cary-williams-declines-ravens%e2%80%99-contract-offer/feed/0At First Glance: Lions vs. Ravenshttp://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2012/08/17/at-first-glance-lions-vs-ravens/
http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2012/08/17/at-first-glance-lions-vs-ravens/#commentsSat, 18 Aug 2012 03:21:45 +0000BR.comhttp://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/?p=31112Ryan Mink: This was kind of the opposite of last week. It was a loss, but the first-team offense performed well and the defense did too until some of the key figures left the field. The Ravens stuck with the no-huddle, hurry-up attack, and this time you saw how it can pay off. Baltimore marched down the field, but just couldn’t stick it in the end zone. I still don’t like the big gains given up defensively, especially considering the Ravens will face similarly explosive passing attacks in the regular season. But I’ll take a good first-team performance over a come-from-behind win by the third-stringers any day.

Garrett Downing: This was a better showing for the Ravens, especially the offense. Joe Flacco looked in command and moved the offense down the field. They need to clean up the mistakes and score touchdowns on some of those drives where they get in the red zone, but overall the group showed improvement in the no-huddle offense. Defensively, the secondary struggled with stopping Calvin Johnson once safeties Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard came off the field. Johnson is arguably the best receiver in the NFL, but the cornerbacks have had a tough time stopping the pass in consecutive weeks. And finally, the kicking battle between Justin Tucker and Billy Cundiff continues to stay interesting as they were both perfect on Friday night. That is a competition that could come all the way down to the wire.

Sarah Ellison: That’s what a successful up-tempo, no-huddle offense is supposed to look like. What a difference from last week. The starters didn’t come up with a touchdown because of a few mistakes in the red zone, but they moved the ball between the 20s and Joe Flacco looked in command at the line of scrimmage. The fast pace was taxing on the Detroit defense and factored into two Lions offsides penalties in the first quarter. Just imagine it with Torrey Smith, Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson in the lineup. Unlike the offense, the secondary’s performance was not an improvement from the Atlanta game. The unit struggled with Julio Jones last week and wanted redemption against Calvin Johnson, but didn’t get it. “Megatron” finished with 111 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. Fans finally got to see running back Bernard Pierce in action for the first time and he looked impressive, showing explosiveness with some (correctable) rookie mistakes. Rookies Deonte Thompson and Asa Jackson had special moments to savor even though their touchdowns were brought back. Others who stood out: Matt Birk, Paul Kruger, LaQuan Williams, Omar Brown (again). Room for improvement: Jimmy Smith, Cary Williams, Courtney Upshaw, Nigel Carr and Tyrod Taylor (throwing, not rushing).

Newly signed veteran defensive tackle Ryan McBean underwent a successful surgery this week to repair his broken ankle, according to The Baltimore Sun.

McBean suffered the injury in the preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons. The 6-foot-5, 305-pounder knew immediately that he suffered a serious injury.

“Well when my foot was facing the direction to where it wasn’t supposed to be facing then I figured, ‘Yeah, OK. Something is wrong,’” McBean told WNST.

Dr. Robert Anderson, who also performed surgery on Terrell Suggs’ Achilles tendon, inserted metal hardware into McBean’s ankle to help the healing process, which is projected to take about four to six months to fully recover, according to The Sun.

McBean does not expect to return this season.

“I will be back around [Organized Team Activities] time – back to 100 percent,” he said. “That’s my mark and that’s what I’ll be aiming for, that’s what I’ll be going for.”

The 28 year old has not been placed on injured reserve yet, but could end up on the list.

McBean was signed by the Ravens this spring to a one-year deal reportedly worth $1.2 million, which was not guaranteed and didn’t include a signing bonus, reported Aaron Wilson. He was suspended for the first three games of the season for a violation of the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy while playing for the Denver Broncos.

With a season return seemingly out of the question, McBean is already focused on his rehab to ensure proper healing.

“It only took me 30 seconds to feel sorry for myself and then after that 30 seconds I just moved on from there,” he said. “The coaches say, ‘Hey, just make sure [you] heal and get right and just be ready for next year.’”

McBean was listed as the primary backup to Haloti Ngata, but his absence now gives former rookie free agent and practice squad player Bryan Hall a chance to fill that role. A talented defensive lineman, Hall is also known around the halls of the Under Armour Performance Center as the player with the biggest mouth.

“Bryan brags about his 17 sacks he got at Arkansas State every chance he gets in the d-line room,” McBean said. “He’s a guy that comes out to practice and goes hard every single day – not just on the d-line, but on special teams.

“I say that’s a guy that you need to look out for. I believe he can do it and I believe he will do it.”

If McFarland’s projections are correct, that would give Baltimore 11 picks in the upcoming draft.

The Ravens lost a total of six free agents that should qualify for compensatory picks, including guard Ben Grubbs (Saints), linebacker Jarret Johnson (Chargers), safeties Tom Zbikowski (Colts) and Haruki Nakamura (Panthers), defensive end Cory Redding (Colts) and defensive tackle Brandon McKinney (Colts).

Those losses were countered by two Ravens signings of cornerback Corey Graham (Bears) and safety Sean Considine (Arizona).

That nets out to four picks.

“It is possible that Considine may not qualify in the evaluation but that designation is a [moot] point anyway, since the maximum number of comp picks awarded to any individual team is four,” wrote McFarland.

Note that players cut by the Ravens or by their former teams do not weigh into the compensatory pick calculations. That includes cornerback Chris Carr, wide receiver Lee Evans, guard Bobbie Williams and receiver/returner Jacoby Jones.

A total of seven running backs are currently injured in the division, including Browns first-round pick Trent Richardson (arthroscopic knee surgery), Bengals veteran starter BenJarvus Green-Ellis (foot) and backup Bernard Scott (hand) and Steelers current top back Isaac Redman (groin).

“None of the injuries to the starting backs are considered serious. When the season begins in less than four weeks, Green-Ellis, Richardson and Redman are expected to be lining up in the backfield,” wrote Hensley. “Still, the number of injured backs heading into the second preseason game is a troublesome trend for the division.”

Also, Pittsburgh’s starting running back of the last three years, Rashard Mendenhall, is trying to come back from a torn ACL.

Ravens fans just hope Rice and the Ravens obey the first commandment of preseason playtonight: Thou shalt not get injured.

What To Watch For vs. Detroit

Oh yeah, the Ravens have their preseason home opener tonight. Seems strange it took so long to mention it this morning.

Here are some things analysts say you should watch out for:

Better communication in the offensive line, translating to better protection for quarterback Joe Flacco. After his visit to practice in Owings Mills, Md., former Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick tweeted that the Ravens front office must have a “sickening” feeling when thinking about either Tyrod Taylor or Curtis Painter being just one play away from being the starter. To prevent that from happening, Flacco can’t get hit the way he did in Atlanta last week.

The Ravens will face a new challenge Friday night against the Lions defensive line that features Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and defensive end Cliff Avril, but they should also have veteran center Matt Birk back. “The offensive line, which should have better communication with six-time Pro Bowl center Matt Birk expected to make his preseason debut after sitting out last week with back issues, needs to match the Lions’ power and toughness,” wrote Wilson.

Can kicker Billy Cundiff perform under pressure? That’s the question CBSSports.com’s Jason Butt wants to have answered tonight, as Cundiff is slated to get the first field-goal attempt tonight. “In a perfect scenario, the Ravens will have enough tries for both Cundiff and rookie Justin Tucker,” Butt wrote. “Tucker has outperformed Cundiff in practice by making 95 percent of his attempts. Still, there’s a general feeling the job is Cundiff’s to lose. If Cundiff can prove he can still hit big kicks in game situations then the safer he’ll be when Baltimore is forced to trim its roster down.”

Running back Bernard Pierce will try to make his case to become Rice’s primary backup. The third-round draft pick missed the first preseason game with a hamstring injury, but he is expected to get a chance to prove his worth against the Lions. “With Anthony Allen and Damien Berry having yet to stand out during training camp, Pierce will get an extended look Friday, and an impressive performance would go a long way in his quest to win the backup running back job behind Ray Rice,” wrote The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec.

Pierce on what it’s like to become a father (his fiancée gave birth to Bernard Jr. earlier this month): “I’d say it feels like your birthday. It comes one time a year. I know this is my day. But it’s really not your birthday. I was overwhelmed, excited. I really can’t totally explain the feeling because it’s something I’ve never felt before.” [CBSSports.com]

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor says he’s “way ahead” of where he was last season. [CSNBaltimore.com]

With a stable of depth at the position, combined with the Ravens looking to implement a faster tempo with the no-huddle offense, there’s a chance the team keeps six receivers.

But only four are “locks” to make the team, says the CBSSports.com scribe.

The first three are pretty much indisputable: Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones.

Boldin had another standout performance in practice yesterday, making catches with a cornerback draped on his back. “After one of them, a Ravens PR person predicted that Boldin could be in for nice yr,” tweeted Carroll County Times’ Matt Zenitz.

Smith is a burner, but has added more weapons to his game and is looking to become a more complete receiver. Jones is supposed to be what Lee Evans couldn’t become last year – a speedy outside complement to Smith to help keep defenses honest.

Usually columnists say the competition gets a little murky after those first three players, but Butt is the first I’ve seen to declare second-year receiver LaQuan Williams as the “lock” at No. 4.

“Rarely has Williams dropped a pass in training camp,” wrote Butt. “Not only that, but some of the passes Williams has caught have been nothing short of outstanding. During the NFL lockout, Williams was working at a paint store and thought about enlisting in the military. Now he’s got a good chance of entering the WR rotation on Sundays.”

Now here’s where the battle gets interesting, says Butt, with one or two open spots remaining for four “bubble” players.

Tandon Doss “should make the team again” despite a hamstring injury limiting his training camp.

Doss leaves one potential spot remaining, which Butt currently gives to rookie free agent Deonte Thompson over sixth-round choice Tommy Streeter. David Reed is then projected to go on either PUP or IR.

“Thompson has made the most of each opportunity so far and has continued to receive reps, primarily with the second team,” Butt explains. “He’s got excellent speed and is a fluid route-runner. Like most rookies, he just has to work on consistency. He can contribute on special teams in both coverage and return units, and he could be an emergency return specialist.

“Streeter has yet to prove he belongs on the roster. Yet, at 6-feet-5, 220 pounds, he has ideal size as a wideout. He also has blazing straight-ahead speed. Coach John Harbaugh has described Streeter as a project, and his potential could be too much to risk placing [him] on the practice squad.”

Last month, CBSSports.com’s Pete Prisco made a bolddddd prediction: the New England Patriots will have a perfect 16-0 record in 2012.

Turns out, ESPN AFC East blogger James Walker saw Prisco at a Miami Dolphins practice this week and challenged the columnist’s projection.

“Point out a game they’re expected to lose,” Prisco responded to Walker.

So he did.

And the No. 1 team on his list to beat the Patriots? The Baltimore Ravens, of course, with a 60 percent chance of beating the Pats in an AFC championship rematch.

“Yes, the Ravens won’t have reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs, who is out with an Achilles injury,” Walker wrote. “But I can tell you from experience that Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium is one of the NFL’s toughest venues for road teams. The Patriots will need their “A” game to beat the Ravens in their home stadium.

Carr confirmed that Rosburg gave him a little talk about the value of the punter.

“He told me, ‘Don’t injure the kicker,’” Carr told Lee. “But that’s part of it. As a rookie, you try to do everything right. Even on the scout team, you know that everything counts. I just told him, ‘Yes, sir, won’t happen again.’ And I moved on with my practice.

“If they see you doing that on scout team, they’ll know you really want to be here and that you really want to be on the team. A person in my position, an undrafted guy, it’s going to be hard to make this 53-man roster. So I have to do everything right. It’s not as much the defense right now. It’s more about special teams, going out there and really being perfect on special teams. That’s what’s going to put my foot in the door.”

In the preseason opener in Atlanta, Allen gained just 9 yards on five carries and Berry gained 17 yards on seven. Meanwhile, Rainey put together one of the best performances of the night, churning out 143 all-purpose yards.

“Allen understands that his grip as the first tailback behind Rice on the team’s depth chart could be loosening,” Lee wrote.

But the second-year back isn’t giving up.

“Being a competitor, that’s the type of thing you want to see,” Allen said of battle to backup Rice. “You don’t want it to be given to you. You want to have to come out here and work because it’s going to make you better. So I think having guys like Bernard and Bobby and Damien Berry makes me try to step up my game every time I come out here on the practice field. Every time I’m in a game, every time I walk into the meeting room, every time I’m trying to study, I have to do better.”

Quick Hits

@CSteele32: Great pic of the #Ravens @Navyathletics practice, taken by @RDPhotoOP. @raylewis52com @pkruger99 @Artj97 @TwentyER [Twitter]

Bernard Pollard, who’s known to enjoy laying a hit or two on opponents, loved having a little fight in practice yesterday. … @Crushboy31: Today was the best day by far this camp!!! [Twitter]

Former Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick was at the practice in Owings Mills, Md. yesterday as the FOX crew gets ready to broadcast Friday’s game against the Lions. Billick met up with Nestor Aparicio to discuss some of the keys for the Ravens this season. [WNST]

Is the Ravens secondary the best in NFL? Brad Jackson discusses. [CSNBaltimore.com]

“A lot of people don’t know that I’m kind of a geek,” he said Tuesday afternoon.

Pollard has wanted to design a video game since his youth, when he watched his father take apart and rebuild computers. Pollard even studied computer technology at Purdue University.

On Friday, Pollard’s childhood dream finally launched. His card-game app, Bourre, is now available on the iPhone, iPad and iTouch for $1.99.

The idea stems from Pollard watching athletes playBourre in their spare time. But one thing Pollard didn’t like was how much cash he saw exchanging hands.

While Pollard said he only plays for candy, he’s seen wagers of up to $80,000.

“It’s one of those games where you can either win big or you’re going to lose big,” Pollard said.

In Pollard’s game, users wager fake electronic money.

“I wanted to make it safe,” Pollard said. “When you’re talking about gambling and that much money changing hands, anything can happen. I wanted to come out with something where you can have fun on an app and not have to gamble money. You can just play for fun.”

Pollard discoveredthere was no app for the card game last Dec. 23, on his birthday, when talking with family members.

He immediately got in touch with a friend from his days with the Houston Texans, running back Ryan Moats. Back in 2009, while the two were playing the “NCAA Football” video game together, the two looked at each other and said, “Man, let’s make a game someday.”

Moats, who hasn’t played an NFL game since that time, worked a lot with EA Sports on the Madden series and now has his own company, Moatsworks Studios.

While Pollard fronted the money for the app and gave Moats the vision for how he wanted it to look, he backed off andlet Moats execute the plan.

“It’s big to be able to show people that football is not the only thing we are capable of,” Pollard said. “We are capable of other things.”

Bourre is quickly taking over the Ravens locker room. Pollard says more than 30 teammates have downloaded it and are playing with each other.

Yesterday, tight end Dennis Pitta came to Pollard with a bunch of questions as he tries to learn the game. Since he’s out with a broken hand, Pitta’s had some time to play.

“It’s really cool to be honest,” Pitta said. “It’s similar to the game of hearts, which I’ve played a lot. I’m learning, but the app is great. It looks cool, it’s really well done.”

The app has a 4 1/2-star rating in the app store as of this morning. I downloaded it and must say, it’s pretty darn slick and mildly addicting.

For players looking to challenge Pollard, the Ravens safety’s username is: b33nutz. So download the game and take him on.

When trying to project the Ravens’ final 53-man roster, most fans could easily predict about 40 spots – give or take a few – because most players are obvious virtual locks.

But that leaves a lot of grey area for the remaining 13 or so.

CBSSports.com’s Jason Butt projected the entire 53-man roster, noting there’s still time for a few changes. Feel free to look at his complete roster, but I’ve pulled out six predictions about decisions coaches may not have even made themselves and it will be interesting to see if they hold true.

And for those of you trying to win the You Pick The Team presented by New Era contest – a trip to see the Ravens play the Chargers in San Diego on November 25th – these predictions could either help or hurt you (I can’t say I agree 100 percent with them all, but they’re pretty good). So use your own judgment with these predictions, and take it easy on Butt if he steers you down the wrong road.

Prediction 1: The Ravens will keep three quarterbacks on the roster, adding veteran Curtis Painter. “Coach John Harbaugh’s stated that Baltimore likes the idea of using Taylor more within the offense this year,” wrote Butt. “Taylor’s athletic and could be a wildcat quarterback this year. Plus, his arm strength and accuracy have improved. By keeping Painter, Baltimore would feel more comfortable about using Taylor more.”

Prediction 2: Neither Anthony Allen nor Damien Berry, the two early favorites to backup Ray Rice at the beginning of the offseason, will make the team. The two rookies, Bernard Pierce (No. 2) and Bobby Rainey (No. 3), are currently outperforming the more experienced backs, but that could change … “There’s still a lot of time for Allen and Berry to make a run,” wrote Butt. “There’s also a chance Baltimore seeks a veteran free agent if it feels none of the young running backs are ready to become Rice’s primary backup. If that’s the case, Rainey and Berry could wind up on the scout team and Allen could be looking for another team.”

Prediction 3: Baltimore keeps six receivers (you can guess the first three) with LaQuan Williams, Tandon Doss and rookie free agent Deonte Thompson getting the final three spots. That means sixth-round pick Tommy Streeter is out and David Reed is a possible IR candidate. “Streeter’s a project, a 6-5, 220-pound body with blazing, straight-ahead speed. Thompson’s more versatile, but had some issues dropping the ball in college,” wrote Butt. “Thompson’s outperformed him early but Baltimore doesn’t like to cut its draft picks.”

Prediction 4: Eight of the (likely) nine roster spots for the offensive line are a lock, but that final spot comes down to four players: Ramon Harwood, Tony Wragge, Justin Boren and Jack Cornell. Harewood gets it. “Harewood, a sixth-round draft pick in 2010, has been banged up but appears the healthiest he’s been since coming to Baltimore,” says Butt. “He would also give the Ravens another body at tackle, with Osemele and Reid being swing guys.”

Prediction 5: Linebackers are the victim of keeping three quarterbacks. Danelle Ellerbe is in, but he could be pushed by Chavis Williams or Nigel Carr. “For now, Ellerbe remains in but needs to prove he belongs through the remainder of the preseason,” wrote Butt. “Williams could be a victim of Baltimore’s desire to keep three quarterbacks, and someone deep on the depth chart at another position would have to be released to make room.”

Prediction 6: Billy Cundiff is the kicker by default. “Cundiff gets the edge for now since there’s no indication what Harbaugh and his staff will do at kicker,” wrote Butt. “But it should be noted that Tucker has out-kicked Cundiff in practice. There’s still a lot of time before a final decision will be made but this battle could go down to the wire.”

And he’s had to face this opponent every day in practice this offseason: Dean Pees.

“Dean, I’ve known about Dean, and known Dean for a long time. When he was in New England, I went against him several times. He’s the best I’ve gone against,” Cameron told reporters yesterday. “And the reason I tell you that is because you can’t decipher – or he’s very difficult to decipher – what they’re trying to do.”

With the Ravens’ top pass rusher Terrell Suggs sidelined for an indefinite amount of time this season, plus losingdefensive end Cory Redding to free agency, Pees’ ability to camouflage his defense is exactly what the team needs right now.

“The Ravens defense might need to become the masters of disguise to manufacture a fierce pass rush this season,” wrote The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson. “Generating pressure through more elaborate blitz packages and overloads is likely to be a large part of the equation.

“For Pees … hiding his intentions is pivotal.”

Pees was more humble about his ability to fool an offense. He gave credit to smart coaches and quarterbacks around the league for their football smarts. He said the key to disguise is putting in a coverage that looks exactly like a blitz.

With younger, less-experienced players stepping up this year – Paul Kruger, Courtney Upshaw, Pernell McPhee, Arthur Jones and Terrence Cody – the Ravens will rely heavily upon their new defensive coordinator.

“Known for his cerebral approach, Pees has an instant recall of opponents’ tendencies gleaned from studying countless hours of game tape,” wrote Wilson. “The Ravens are counting on Pees’ football acumen.”

“Flacco doesn’t gush often. So when he says he loves the no-huddle, this is significant. Flacco has a comfort level with the no-huddle and the shotgun because that’s what he ran for most of his time at Delaware.”

Hensley added that some of the fifth-year quarterback’s best moments last year came in the no-huddle, shotgun attack, including the winning drive at Pittsburgh and the almost-winning drive in the AFC championship.

“Despite Flacco’s support, I’m not sure how much more the Ravens will use the no-huddle attack this season,” the AFC North blogger wrote. “The Ravens used no huddle on 7 percent of their offensive plays, which already put them in the top half of the league.”

Harbs: It’s a good one. It’s a tight race. The great thing about it is that they’re both doing really well. I’m not concerned about it because they’re both doing well. They’re both going to be kicking for a team this year in the NFL. You let it play out and let the decision make itself.

Kelly rippeon: Do you think [Terrell] Suggs will play in the 2012-2013 football season?

Harbs: Yes, I do.

Jen: Coach is it concerning that you have to play the steelers twice in 3 weeks knowing its always a hard hitting game that takes alot out of the team?

Harbs: The Steelers have to play us twice in three weeks too, so I guess that evens it out.

Thomas: Coach have you ever seen Ray Lewis down or blue in the four years you have been with the Ravens? He always seems to talk and jump around on the sidelines.

Harbs: Never. Never seen Ray let disappointment or frustration get the best of him. When he does feel he’s being challenged he’ll get quiet. He’ll pray. That’s good advice for all of us.

Mohamed: Do you feel that Flacco has the potential to become within the top 3 quarterbacks this year?

Harbs: Absolutely.

Quick Hits

“There apparently won’t be a Round 3 in the training-camp fight between wide receiver Antonio Brown and cornerback Ike Taylor,” wrote Hensley. “After their second skirmish of camp, Brown said he and Taylor went to breakfast on their day off and ‘ironed out our differences.’”[ESPN]

@jeffzrebiecsun: Torrey Smith was really slowed by sprained ankle [Monday] in practice so him not being out there [Tuesday] is no surprise. #Ravens [Twitter]

In an informal locker room poll of who has the biggest mouth on the team, Hall won in a landslide. The player teammates call “Cee-Lo,” after the rapper, even nominated himself.

“I think I’m blowing everybody out of the water,” Hall said after doubling over in laughter.

I won’t lie, Hall can be a tad much. For example, he likes to play a game in which he tries to get his teammates to laugh during interviews by just shouting random things at them. So it results in either terrible or inaudible quotes.

But for the most part, Hall cracks me up – along with just about everyone else he’s around. For example, he was doing a special “Big Mac” dance in the locker room the other day, mimicking a tired Bryant McKinnie with his hands on his hips.

Believe me, it’s a good thing to have during these dog days of training camp.

“I do it mostly to have fun with everybody,” Hall said. “Especially in this business, it can get stressful.”

Hall acts as if it’s a choice. It’s not. He was born to be a loudmouth. Hall’s mom is one of 15 kids. The second-year player has three sisters and a brother himself.

“My whole family will talk your head off,” Hall said. “If you want to talk you have to be extra loud.”

Hall’s that kid who probably got detention every other day. He’s been told to pipe down so many times by Defensive Line Coach Clarence Brooks that all Brooks has to say now is, “Hey, hey, hey, Bryan.”

Hall responds with, “I know Coach, shut up.”

“When he talks it’s like a buzz in your ear,” Brooks said. “I’m like, ‘Bryan, do you ever shut up?’ He’ll shut up for like 30 seconds and then he’s right back at it again.”

Kidding aside, Brooks gushed about his young lineman, saying his personality is “infectious” and that he’s one of the most well-liked players on the team. He talked about his tireless work ethic (Hall nearly had perfect attendance this offseason).

Head Coach John Harbaugh called Hall an “exceptionally explosive player.” But not before talking about his personality.

“You love being around him,” Harbaugh said. “I think he’ll be an entertainer when he gets done playing football.”

The other nominees for the award of biggest mouth were outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, nose tackle Terrence Cody and cornerbacks Lardarius Webb and Chykie Brown.

The altercation began when Taylor tried to wrestle a ball away from Brown in the end zone, according to the report. They fought for the ball on the ground, and when they eventually got back on their feet, Brown threw a punch at Taylor.

Several teammates intervened, but it didn’t stop there.

A “spirited” goal-line drill toward the end of practice seemed to further incite the players, especially safety Ryan Clark and Taylor.

Once practice concluded, Taylor went after Brown in the middle of the field and the players had to be separated again, this time even by Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert.

The teammates eventually walked off the field together with Taylor holding an ice pack to his forehead.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin downplayed the Sunday fight.

“These guys understand what we’re working for, and when we step into stadiums, we’re together,” Tomlin said. “When you fight your brother, sometimes, it gets a little heated … the guys understand what that’s about, and they’ll leave it on the grass where it should be.”

But he won’t be able to give the same speech if a third brawl occurs, says ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.

“If a third altercation occurs between Brown and Taylor, head coach Mike Tomlin can’t chalk it up to ‘those things happen’ like he did Sunday,” wrote the AFC North blogger. “Brown and Taylor are the best at their positions on this team. Tomlin can’t allow them to keep butting heads (sorry, Chad Johnson).”

Does Thompson Have Edge Over Streeter?

It’s unclear how many receivers the Ravens will keep on the roster in 2012.

If they keep six like they did the two last seasons, that final spot could come down to undrafted rookie free agent Deonte Thompson and sixth-round draft pick Tommy Streeter. (David Reed could also be in the mix once he returns from an ACL injury.)

In order to get that sixth spot, if available, Head Coach John Harbaugh said each competing receiver will have to 1) make plays on offense and 2) play an important role on special teams.

The undrafted rookie also appears to be making more plays on offense. After a standout performance in the preseason opener with three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown, Thompson continued his streak in practice. He’s since caught a few more touchdown grabs from quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

Harbaugh said that Thompson had a lull for a couple days in camp prior to the contest in Atlanta, but said he’s enjoyed another big spark.

“He’s making a little bit of a move,” the head coach added.

But don’t count out Streeter.

He’s still a little raw and lacks polish as a route runner, say Zenitz, but he’s 6-foot-5, 220 pounds and ran a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash at the combine.

“Streeter, though, could be tough to get rid of because of his combination of size and speed,” wrote Zenitz. “[He] has big upside as both a deep threat and a weapon inside the red zone.”

C. Williams Losing Ground, Has A Weakness To Correct

Cornerback Cary Williams is losing ground to second-year player Jimmy Smith in the battle for starting cornerback, says Hensley.

Despite not playing in the Ravens preseason game (back), Smith may have helped his chances because Williams struggled to cover Falcons receiver Julio Jones. Williams gave up five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter.

“The numbers are worse than the effort,” wrote Hensley. “On the first catch allowed, Williams tried to jam Julio Jones, who was able to get inside position for a 26-yard gain on a slant. The next two passes were completions to Jones when Williams played seven to eight yards off the line.”

The five year veteran’s weakness, according to Hensley, is that he plays the receiver rather than the ball. There were two plays in which Williams ran stride for stride with the receiver and was in good position, but just needed to turn to deflect the pass.

“When the regular season begins next month, Williams could look back at this game as a missed opportunity,” wrote Hensley. “The Ravens need to give Smith, a first-round pick from a year ago, a hard look with the first-team defense over the next three preseason games.”

Reed Sneaks Into Offensive Huddle

A playful Ed Reed was on display during Monday’s practice.

The veteran safety snuck into the offensive huddle as quarterback Joe Flacco was calling a play during 11-on-11 drills.

He found a nice little hiding place, standing next to the gigantic Bryant McKinnie (6-foot-8, 360 pounds).

“Reed blended in nicely. However, he was eventually noticed, prompting him to jog away,” wrote The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec.

Reed’s shenanigans come just a few days after the Ravens announced he wouldn’t play in the preseason opener, but the All-Pro ended up out there anyway because he didn’t have anything else to do and he needed to break in his jersey.

Marshal Yanda brought in a T-shirt with a saying that players are embracing … KOsevendeuce: Just posted a photo [Twitter]

Haloti Ngata feels much more comfortable with his added weight. He’s gone from 335 at the end of the season to 342 now. Not only does he feel stronger with opponents double-teaming him, but he doesn’t feel like his conditioning is any worse. He says he is breathing just fine in camp. Listen to more of his explanation. [CSNBaltimore.com]

]]>http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2012/08/14/late-for-work-814-steelers-fight-goes-beyond-the-norm/feed/0AFC North and NFL Roundup: Week of Aug. 13-17http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2012/08/13/afc-north-and-nfl-roundup-week-of-aug-13-17/
http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2012/08/13/afc-north-and-nfl-roundup-week-of-aug-13-17/#commentsMon, 13 Aug 2012 13:51:08 +0000Garrett Downinghttp://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/?p=31047We’ll round up the biggest stories from AFC North enemy territory each day. We’ll also bring you any NFL national news and updates on former Ravens, if there’s something to pass along.

Friday, Aug. 17

Comfort Level Improves For Heyward In Second SeasonSecond-year defensive lineman Cameron Heyward is more comfortable heading into the 2012 season, especially now that he didn’t have to wait through a labor dispute this summer to get on the practice field. Expectations are higher for him heading into his second season in Dick LeBeau’s defense. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Improved Weeden Leads Browns To 35-10 Win Over PackersCleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden looked much improved in his second preseason start, and he helped lead the Browns to a 35-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Weeden completed 12 of 20 passes for 118 yards, and led the team on four scoring drives. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Bengals Take Down Atlanta
The Cincinnati Bengals improved to 2-0 in the preseason by taking down the Atlanta Falcons 24-19 at the Georgia Dome. Second-year quarterback Andy Dalton had a strong showing, including a 50-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver A.J. Green in the second quarter. [Cincinnati Enquirer]

Owens To Make Debut With SeattleThe Seattle Seahawks signed veteran wide receiver Terrell Owens this offseason, and the flashy wideout will make his debut this weekend. Head Coach Pete Carroll did not provide specifics on how many snaps Owens would play when the Seahawks will take on the Denver Broncos Saturday night. [NFL.com]

Thursday, Aug. 16

Harrison Has A SetbackThe Steelers are preparing for the possibility that linebacker James Harrison will have to miss some of the regular season after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Wednesday. The surgery removed an impairment that has caused swelling since the spring. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Weeden Eager To Experience Lambeau FieldThe Cleveland Browns have will face the Green Bay Packers tonight in the second preseason game of the year. It will be another opportunity for rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden to lead the Browns offense and take control of the group. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Secondary Under Scrutiny
The Cincinnati Bengals secondary is under scrutiny with less than a month before the regular season, and the group is looking to ease some concerns during the next two preseason games. Tonight that secondary will face Matt Ryan and the Falcons, which had success last week against the Ravens. [Cincinnati Enquirer]

Witten Suffers Spleen InjuryDallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten could miss the rest of the preseason after suffering a spleen injury and internal bleeding following a hit in the preseason opener. Tests showed that the spleen is not ruptured and he will not need surgery. [NFL.com]

Tuesday, Aug. 14

Haley Bringing Screen Pass Back Into OffenseNew Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley is bringing back the screen pass, a lost element of the Steelers offense in recent years. Haley’s offense is getting the running backs more engaged in the passing game, rather than the spread formations that the Steelers have used in recent years. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Cribbs Out To Show He’s More Than Special TeamerJosh Cribbs has been fighting the notion the last few years that he’s a special teamer who also happens to play receiver. Cribbs is listed as the third wide receiver on the depth chart, but said that he is not complacent with letting his reps get depleted by other players on the roster. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Adam Jones Getting Up To Speed
After missing time at the start of training camp with an undisclosed injury, cornerback Adam Jones is working his way back and plans to play in this week’s preseason game against Atlanta. Jones struggled at times in the preseason opener, and he is looking to earn a key role on this year’s team. [Cincinnati Enquirer]

Referee Lockout Could Last Into SeasonLeague executives said Monday that they could foresee the 2012 regular season starting with replacement officials, according to a report from ESPN. The NFL has been using replacement officials during the preseason games, and it appears that the two sides are not close in reaching a new labor agreement. [ESPN.com]

Monday, Aug. 13

Taylor, Brown Fight After PracticeWide receiver Antonio Brown and cornerback Ike Taylor have been involved in two fights during training camp practice, and one on Sunday forced the team’s general manager to get involved. Taylor and Brown started fighting in the middle of the field after practice on Sunday, after getting physical during some previous drills. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Browns Turn Up Heat On GordonThe Cleveland Browns have turned up the heat on rookie wide receiver Josh Gordon, who the team took the in second round of this year’s supplemental draft. Gordon is expected to start in this week’s preseason game, and Head Coach Pat Shurmur admitted that Gordon needs some prodding at times. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Dunlap Out At Least Four Weeks
Defensive end Carlos Dunlap will miss at least four weeks due to a sprained right knee. Dunlap was injured during Friday’s preseason opener when a player clips his knee. Dunlap was expected to start at defensive end this season, but now the start of his season is up in the air. [Cincinnati Enquirer]

Dolphins Cut WR JohnsonThe Miami Dolphins released wide receiver Chad Johnson on Sunday, one day after he was arrested on domestic violence charges for allegedly head-butting his wife. Johnson was signed by the Dolphins this offseason, and was hoping to revive his career after a disappointing 2011 season with the Patriots. [SI.com]